Date of Award:

5-1967

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Wildlife Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Jessop B. Low

Committee

Jessop B. Low

Abstract

The Monte Cristo area of the Cache National Forest has consistently supported a heavy pocket gopher infestation for many years. In 1957, and several succeeding years, infested range was treated with poisoned grain for pocket gopher control. Nearby range (also infested) was not treated. Thus, gopher-controlled range became available for comparative study, with periods of successive annual control of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. Within each of these areas (designated as treatments) were located two study sites in 1961 and three in 1962. Within each study site were three sample areas, and just outside each study site were two trap blocks.

Half-acre trap blocks were saturated with snap traps for 3-consecutive days to give a 3-day population index; this was converted to population per acre by treatments for use with regression analysis. Mound and cast counts, which have been widely used as indicators of the relative abundance of gophers were made on the 1-acre sample areas of each treatment. Within these sample areas line-plot transects were used to obtain information on perennial plant numbers and yield, annual plant abundance, and "bulbed plant" abundance.

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